Dutchess County Progressive Action Alliance (DCPAA) is a community mobilization organization operating under a structure with no formally elected positions or overseeing executives. DCPAA advocates for a left-of-center agenda across a variety of issue areas such as education, health care, and immigration. ¹ Founded in 2016, DCPAA engages residents in Dutchess County, New York, through community education and mobilization. ²

Structure

Dutchess County Progressive Action Alliance is organized horizontally in what it considers a “sociocratic” structure, rather than a traditional top-down leadership structure with executives overseeing subordinates. The organization consists of several “action teams” and “functional teams” that are individually and autonomously run. Elected and executive positions don’t exist within the organization, but a “connecting circle,” consisting of one representative from each action team, serves as a decision-making body. Action teams are required to consult the connecting circle for approval to publicly use DCPAA branding, request DCPAA funds, or make changes to the DCPAA governing documents. The connecting circle also offers non-binding input on policies or proposals should an action team seek feedback. ³

Present Activities

Dutchess County Progressive Action Alliance consists of a handful of action teams focused on individual policy topics including the environment, healthcare, immigration, and election laws. ⁴

In 2021, the organization worked to reduce incarceration in the Hudson Valley area of New York through an alliance called “Decarcerate the Hudson Valley,” a coalition of various advocacy groups formed in 2020. Other partner groups include left-of-center organizations such as Black Lives Matter Hudson Valley and Newburgh LGBTQ+ Center. ⁵ DCPAA is also a member of the Communities Not Cages coalition, ⁶ a campaign to overhaul New York sentencing laws, that partners with left-progressive organizations such as the Children’s Defense Fund New York and Human Rights Watch. ⁷

Campaign finance and election law reform are also large DCPAA platforms. In 2019, the organization applauded state legislative bodies for advancing campaign finance proposals that would potentially launch public campaign financing opportunities such as small donor matches. ⁸

DCPAA also works with neighboring organizations to provide educational sessions. The organization worked with Mothers Out Front, a left-of-center environmentalist group, by conducting a workshop on community organizing and relationship building. ⁹

Leadership

The Dutchess County Progressive Action Alliance was formed in 2016 by Caroline Fenner, a former middle school teacher, after she became civically and politically active following a move to Poughkeepsie, New York, after more than a decade of living in New York City. While in New York City, she worked in film and television production. ¹⁰

1. “Our Mission.” Dutchess County Progressive Action Alliance. Accessed January 22, 2022. https://www.dcpaa.org/about/our-mission/.
2. Our Mission.” Dutchess County Progressive Action Alliance. Accessed January 22, 2022. https://www.dcpaa.org/about/our-mission/.
3. “Our Structure.” Dutchess County Progressive Action Alliance. Accessed January 22, 2022. https://www.dcpaa.org/about/our-structure/.
4. “Our Mission.” Dutchess County Progressive Action Alliance. Accessed January 22, 2022. https://www.dcpaa.org/about/our-mission/.
5. Wilson, Alex. “The Miscellany News.” Recently-established coalition takes on mass incarceration in Dutchess County – The Miscellany News, September 22, 2021. https://miscellanynews.org/2021/09/22/news/recently-established-coalition-takes-on-mass-incarceration-in-dutchess-county/.
6. “Our Coalition: Communities Not Cages.” Home. Accessed January 22, 2022. https://www.communitiesnotcagesny.org/our-coalition.
7.  “Our Coalition: Communities Not Cages.” Home. Accessed January 30, 2022. https://www.communitiesnotcagesny.org/our-coalition#:~:text=Communities%20Not%20Cages%20is%20a,racist%20and%20draconian%20sentencing%20laws.
8. “As Historic Democracy Reform Bill Advances in Congress, Dutchess County Progressive Action Alliance Calls for Reform in New York.” The Harlem Valley News, March 11, 2019. https://www.theharlemvalleynews.net/?p=48611
9. “NY – Community Workshop in Poughkeepsie.” Mothers Out Front. Accessed January 22, 2022. https://nation.mothersoutfront.org/ny_community_workshop_in_poughkeepsie.
10. “Caroline Fenner.” Good Work Institute, April 22, 2021. https://goodworkinstitute.org/people/caroline-fenner/.